Road marker



1 1,640,777 1927' H. o. KUHLHOFF ROAD MARKER Filed Oct, 15. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l NR N INVENTOR.

ATTOR K3.

Aug. 30, 1927.

H. O. KUHLHOFF ROAD MARKER Filed 0 1,, 15. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,640,777 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. KUHLHOFF, OF EUCLID, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONTINENTAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF EUCLID, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ROAD MARKER.

Application filed October 15, 1925.

This invention as indicated relates to a road marker. More particularly it comprises a painting machine adapted especially for use for making traflic lanes upon road surfaces, although obviously the device might also be used for marking tennis courts and the like, or for applying surface coatings to various articles such as floors or decks of ships. In a companion applica tion recently filed in the Patent Ol'lice I have disclosed an apparatus for applying paint to road surfaces by means of a belt,

and in such apparatus a belt contacted directly with the surface to be coated and had a large area of contact therewith.

In the present construction the contact with the surface to be coated is made by one or more rollers, and the belt acts merely as a paint conveying device. Through the use of a plurality of applicator rollers certain advantages in the way of the even spreading of the paint coat upon the surface to be treated, will result, and a more finished effect will be obtained than is possible with but a single roller.

The deviceis also particularly adapted for satisfactorily applying a coat of paint across irregular surfaces, inasmuch as the applicator wheel or pair of applicator 30 wheels, as the case may be, are adapted to ride over the humps and hollows of corru gated surfaces with greater facility than a contact device in the form of a belt. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and par ticularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain features embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing z-Figure 1 is a top plan view showing an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principle of my invention, and Figure 2 is the side elevation thereof.

AS is clearly shown in the drawing, the apparatus comprises a frame 1, formed of a air of side bars 2, provided with journals 3, at their forward ends to receive the axle 4, upon which the lower belt supporting roller or wheel 5, is engaged. The rearward end of the frame is completedby Serial No. 62,549.

means of cross member 6 upon the upper side of which a tank 7, of rectangular outline is supported. A vertical standard 8 is secured to each side frame member at approximately its mid-length and is secured to the tank adjacent to its upper end. Each of the side vertical members extends above the tank a short distance for a purpose which will be presently described. Beneath the rearward portion of the frame a pair of casters or small rollers 9, is provided, said rollers taking the principal weight of the paint. reservoir. The rollers or casters, as the case may be, may be in staggered relation on opposite sides of the frame, as is shown in Figure 2, or may be placed in, direct transverse alignment. The tank is open at the top and the forward wall thereof iscut out adjacent its upper edge topermit the passage of the conveying belt 11, through a portion of the tank. I

Within the tank there is provided a paint wheel or roller 12, said roller being adapted to have peripheralcontact with the paint conveying belt within and adjacent to the upper forward portion of the tank. The conveying belt is. preferably supported at its upper end-upon, a roller or wheel 13, which is carried in a U-shaped bracket 14:, pivotally mounted upon the vertical standards 8 by means of pivots 15. At the rear ward end of the U-shaped bracket an exten sion plate 16, is provided which is received between the U-shaped bracket 17, secured to the upper edges of the tank by means of bolts or other suitable fasteners. An ad justment screw 19 is adapted to be engaged through a threaded opening 21, provided centrally of said U-shaped bar. The adjustment screw has a handle formed at right angles to the body portion thereof, and thelower end of said screw bears against the extension plate 16. Thus by turning the handle the position of the wheel 13 may be varied, and the tension upon the paint conveying belt will be changed proportionately. This adjustment also controls the degree of contact with the paint wheel 12 and the thickness of the coat ofpaint applied to the beltmay be modified accordingly.

The lower portion of the conveying belt extends over the lower roller 5, and upward- 1y at an angle of about forty-five depress to engage over the upper roller 13. The rollerse and13are preferably of the same size.v

i which a drive pulley 42 is mounted.

Upon the axle 4 of the lower roller a pair of T-shaped brackets 21 is provided, said brackets being provided with journals 22, 23 and 24 adjacent the respective ends thereof. The journals 24 are engaged over the axle 4, and the journals 22 serve to receive the axle 25 of the forward applicator roller 26. The journals 23 are adapted to receive the axle 27 of the rearward applicator v roller 28.

The applicator rollers 26 and 28 are spaced from each other a short distance in order that there may be no contact or interference with the independent action of each of said rollers. The axles 4 and 27 are provided with pulley wheels 31 and 32 over which areverse drive belt 33 is engaged. The applicator wheels 26 and 28 are pret' erably provided with an outer surface of felt or other suitable paint conveying material, such as rubber, cork composition, or the like.

The upper roller or wheel 13 is mounted upon the axle 41, upon the outer endTplf e paint wheel 12 is secured to the axle 46 projecting through the sides of the paint reservoir and upon one end of said axle a drive pulley 43 is secured and adapted to be driven by a crossed belt 48 extending over said pulleys 42 and 43.

In order to move the apparatus along the surface to be coated a handle 51 is provided, said handle having a cross bar 52 at its upper end. At its lower end said handle is screwed to the right hand side frame memher by means of a securing bracket 53. A drain plug 55 may be provided at one" side of the tank. p V

The operation of the apparatus it is believed may be clearly understood from the above description. Paint or other suitable coating material to be utilized in the apparatus is placed in the paint reservoir, and as the apparatus progresses along the surface to be coated the contact of the applicator roller 28 with the surface will cause the same to drive the lower wheel 5 over which the paint conveying belt 11 is engaged. The belt will be set in motion and will turn the pulley-wheel 43, thus positively driving the paint wheel 12 in counter-clockwise direction. The paint within the lower portion of the tank will cling to the periphery of the paint wheel and will. be transferred through direct contact to the outer surface of the paint conveying belt 11. The belt next contacts with the rearward ap-' plicator roller 28, and immediately thereafter contacts with the forward applicator roller 26. The paint thus carried by the conveyor belt is transferred in part of each of said applicator rollers, althoughobviously the rearmost roller will receive the larger supply thereof. As the apparatus progresses the first marking contact with the pavement will be provided by the applicator roller 26, which will apply a light coating to the surface. The applicator rolier 28 will immediately contact with said lightly coated surface and will deposit thereon a heavy coat of the desired consistency.

It will be apparent from the description of the construction of the apparatus that the rollers 26 and 28 may move :l'orward or backward about the center provided by the axle 4 without in any way changing their adjustment with respect to the paint conveying belt and its lower roller l' i hen a change in the tension of the conveyor belt is desired it is necessary merely to turn the adjusting screw in the proper direction until the upper supporting wheel 13 is moved to the proper position.

It is obvious that one of the rollers 26 or 28 maybe omitted altogether, or that one of said rollers may be spaced from the outer surface of thepaint conveying belt so as to receive no paint supply. It would serve merely as a pilot or trailer for the other active paint applying roller. lVith two rollers applying a paint coating to a surface it is believed a superior result will be obtained to that where but a single roller is used. g

If butthe single roller 28 were used, it

is obvious that it would have to be placed in:

the position shown in the drawing in order that pressure against the applicator belt would maintain said roller in proper relation to the surface to be coated. This position would be automatically maintained so long as the machine was not lifted to permit said roller to swing free into a position forwardly of the aXle'4.

lVhile reference has been made to paint and a paint reservoir it is to be under.- stood that any liquid mixture or compound suitable for the purpose may be used with the apparatus.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one'eXplainech-change being 'made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 2- 1. An apparatus of the character de scribed having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a paint conveying belt, and a plurality of rollers contacting with the outer surface of said paint conveying belt for transfer ring paint from said belt to the surface to be coated.

2. An apparatus of the character "described having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a paint conveying belt supported upon a pair of Wheels, means for applying paint to the outer surface of said belt adjacent one of said Wheels, and means adjacent to the other of said Wheels for transferring paint from said belt to the surface to be coated.

3. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a Wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a paint conveying belt supported upon a pair of Wheels, means for applying paint to the outer surface of said belt adjacent one of said Wheels, and means pivotally supported with respect to the other of said Wheels for transferring paint from said belt to the surface to be coated.

4:. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a Wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a. paint conveying belt supported upon a pair of Wheels, means for applying paint to the outer surface of said belt adjacent one of said Wheels, and pair of Wheels pivotally supported with respect to said lower belt supporting Wheel for transferring paint from said belt to the surface to be coated.

5. A paint conveying and distributing device for a painting machine comprising a paint conveying belt, means for supplying paint solely to the outer surface thereof, and

means for transferring paint from said belt to the surface to be coated.

6. A paint conveying and distributing device for a painting machine comprising a paint conveying belt, a paint WllEBGl'fOl supplying paint to the outer surface thereof from a source of paint supply, and an applicator roller for transferring paint from said conveying belt to the surface'to be coated.

7. paint conveying and distributing device for a painting machine comprising a paint conveying belt, a paint Wheel for supplying paint to the outer surface thereof from a source of paint supply, and a pair of applicator rollers for transferring paint from said conveying belt to the surface to be coated.

8. A paint conveying and distributing de vice for a painting machine, comprising a paint conveying belt, means for supplying paint.solely to the outer surface thereof, means for transferring paint from the belt to the surface to be coated and means for controlling the thickness of the coat of paint applied to said belt.

Signedby me this 14th day of October 1925.

HENRY O. KUHLHOF F. 

